Soccer Ball Having Reinforced Strength

ABSTRACT

A soccer ball includes a plurality of sheet plates connected with each other and a plurality of reinforcement strips connected with the sheet plates. Each of the sheet plates has a plurality of connecting sides, and the opposite connecting sides of any two adjacent sheet plates are connected to construct a plurality of connections. Each of the reinforcement strips is bonded onto a respective one of the connections to reinforce the strength of the respective connection of the sheet plates. Thus, the reinforcement strips encompass the connections of the sheet plates completely so that the connections of the sheet plates are reinforced and limited by the reinforcement strips to prevent the connections of the sheet plates from being torn or broken due to a stress concentration so as to enhance the lifetime of the soccer ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ball and, more particularly, to asoccer ball.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional soccer ball 1 in accordance with the prior art shown inFIGS. 1-4 comprises a plurality of sheet plates 11 connected with eachother. Each of the sheet plates 11 has a polygonal shape and has aplurality of connecting sides 111. The opposite connecting sides 111 ofany two adjacent sheet plates 11 are bonded and connected with eachother by a high frequency to construct a plurality of connections 13. Inassembly, the opposite connecting sides 111 of any two adjacent sheetplates 11 are bonded and connected with each other by a high frequencyto construct the connections 13. Then, the redundant parts of theconnections 13 are cut and trimmed so that the connections 13 are flushwith the sheet plates 11. Thus, the sheet plates 11 are connected witheach other to form a soccer body. Then, the soccer body is inverted sothat the connections 13 of the sheet plates 11 are disposed in the innerportion of the soccer body. Then, an air cell is inserted into the innerportion of the soccer body. Finally, the edge of the soccer body issealed by a seal material to form the soccer ball 1. After the air cellis inflated, the soccer ball 1 is expanded for use with a user. However,when the soccer body is inverted, when the air cell is inflated or whenthe soccer ball 1 is subjected to an external force due to hit, theconnections 13 of the sheet plates 11 are easily disconnected, torn orbroken due to a stress concentration, thereby decreasing the lifetime ofthe soccer ball 1.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a soccerball, comprising a plurality of sheet plates connected with each otherand a plurality of reinforcement strips mounted on and connected withthe sheet plates. Each of the sheet plates has a plurality of connectingsides. The opposite connecting sides of any two adjacent sheet platesare bonded and connected with each other to construct a plurality ofconnections. Each of the reinforcement strips is bonded onto arespective one of the connections of the sheet plates so as to reinforcethe strength of the respective connection of the sheet plates. Each ofthe reinforcement strips is made a material the same as that of each ofthe sheet plates. Each of the reinforcement strips has a length greaterthan or equal to a length of the respective connection of the sheetplates. Each of the reinforcement strips has a width greater than orequal to a width of the respective connection of the sheet plates.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a soccerball having a reinforced strength.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, thereinforcement strips are securely bonded onto the connections of thesheet plates so as to reinforce the strength of the connections of thesheet plates so that the sheet plates are combined to have a greaterstrength to withstand a larger force or stress.

According to another advantage of the present invention, thereinforcement strips encompass the connections of the sheet platescompletely so that when the soccer body is inverted, when the air cellis inflated or when the soccer ball is subjected to an external forcedue to hit, the connections of the sheet plates are reinforced andlimited by the reinforcement strips to prevent the connections of thesheet plates from being torn or broken due to a stress concentration soas to enhance the lifetime of the soccer ball.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional soccer ball in accordancewith the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an inner perspective view of the conventional soccer ball asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the conventionalsoccer ball as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional soccer ball asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an inner perspective view of a soccer ball in accordance withthe preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of the soccer ball asshown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the soccer ball as shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 5-7, a soccer ball 2 inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a plurality of sheet plates 21 connected with each other and aplurality of reinforcement strips 3 mounted on and connected with thesheet plates 21.

Each of the sheet plates 21 has a substantially polygonal shape and hasa plurality of connecting sides 211. The opposite connecting sides 211of any two adjacent sheet plates 21 are bonded and connected with eachother by a high frequency to construct a plurality of connections 23.Each of the reinforcement strips 3 is made a material the same as thatof each of the sheet plates 21. Each of the reinforcement strips 3 isbonded onto a respective one of the connections 23 of the sheet plates21 so as to reinforce the strength of the respective connection 23 ofthe sheet plates 21. Each of the reinforcement strips 3 has a length 31greater than or equal to a length 231 of the respective connection 23 ofthe sheet plates 21 and has a width 32 greater than or equal to a width232 of the respective connection 23 of the sheet plates 21.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of thereinforcement strips 3 is bonded onto the respective connection 23 ofthe sheet plates 21 by a high frequency, an adhesive, a glue, a heatblower and the like.

In assembly, the opposite connecting sides 211 of any two adjacent sheetplates 21 are bonded and connected with each other by a high frequencyto construct the connections 23. Then, the redundant parts of theconnections 23 are cut and trimmed so that the connections 23 are flushwith the sheet plates 21. Thus, the sheet plates 21 are connected witheach other. Then, each of the reinforcement strips 3 is bonded onto therespective connection 23 of the sheet plates 21. Thus, the reinforcementstrips 3 are combined with the sheet plates 21 to form a soccer body.Then, the soccer body is inverted so that the reinforcement strips 3 andthe connections 23 of the sheet plates 21 are disposed in the innerportion of the soccer body. Then, an air cell is inserted into the innerportion of the soccer body. Finally, the edge of the soccer body issealed by a seal material to form the soccer ball 2. After the air cellis inflated, the soccer ball 2 is expanded for use with a user.

Accordingly, the reinforcement strips 3 are securely bonded onto theconnections 23 of the sheet plates 21 so as to reinforce the strength ofthe connections 23 of the sheet plates 21 so that the sheet plates 21are combined to have a greater strength to withstand a larger force orstress. In addition, the reinforcement strips 3 encompass theconnections 23 of the sheet plates 21 completely so that when the soccerbody is inverted, when the air cell is inflated or when the soccer ball2 is subjected to an external force due to hit, the connections 23 ofthe sheet plates 21 are reinforced and limited by the reinforcementstrips 3 to prevent the connections 23 of the sheet plates 21 from beingtorn or broken due to a stress concentration so as to enhance thelifetime of the soccer ball 2.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated thatthe appended claim or claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A soccer ball, comprising: a plurality of sheet plates connected witheach other; and a plurality of reinforcement strips mounted on andconnected with the sheet plates.
 2. The soccer ball of claim 1, whereineach of the sheet plates has a plurality of connecting sides; theopposite connecting sides of any two adjacent sheet plates are bondedand connected with each other to construct a plurality of connections;each of the reinforcement strips is bonded onto a respective one of theconnections of the sheet plates so as to reinforce the strength of therespective connection of the sheet plates.
 3. The soccer ball of claim1, wherein each of the reinforcement strips is made a material the sameas that of each of the sheet plates.
 4. The soccer ball of claim 2,wherein each of the reinforcement strips has a length greater than orequal to a length of the respective connection of the sheet plates. 5.The soccer ball of claim 4, wherein each of the reinforcement strips hasa width greater than or equal to a width of the respective connection ofthe sheet plates.
 6. The soccer ball of claim 2, wherein each of thereinforcement strips is bonded onto the respective connection of thesheet plates by a high frequency.
 7. The soccer ball of claim 2, whereineach of the reinforcement strips is bonded onto the respectiveconnection of the sheet plates by a glue.
 8. The soccer ball of claim 2,wherein each of the reinforcement strips is bonded onto the respectiveconnection of the sheet plates by a heat blower.
 9. The soccer ball ofclaim 1, wherein the opposite connecting sides of any two adjacent sheetplates are bonded and connected with each other by a high frequency.